The first session of the 128th Legislature was, if not the longest session in history, then the longest session in anyone's memory. Our statutory adjournment date was June 15th, and we were still in session on August 2nd.

We'd been advised long before not to make any travel plans for July - but that August would be "safe". And so I made plans to leave town at the start of August. When I heard we would be back at the state house to try and overturn vetoes on August 2nd, I tried to make changes to my flights but those proved cost prohibitive and so I was away that day.

It's always hard to reassemble the legislature outside of its normal dates of operation. And that was a costly day to miss - we took final votes on a number of bills, including closely-watched issues like solar power legislation and toxic chemical reform, both of which are particularly important to me. I take my attendance seriously, and was sorry and pained to have missed those votes in particular.

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Erik C. Jorgensen represents Maine House District 41 - Part of Portland. This blog represents his own opinions and not those of the Maine Legislature, Maine Democrats, or anyone else. To read more about me, click here